HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Good seeing everybody. I appreciate you being here. It's a great day for football, but every day is a great day for football, and the guys – the heat's good for us, really good. That's how you get in shape; that's how you train, and our guys trained in a great way today. They dominated the heat, had a really good practice, [and] so we're in a good place."
Is it the heat or the humidity? (Jerry Coleman) "It's probably both. What was the humidity? It was high. Heat index is 102 [degrees]. I think it takes into effect both of those. You are probably aware of that, asking a weather question. Oh, you've got your fan. Jerry [Coleman] has got his fan. You want to show the camera how you use it? That's nice. That's nice. Are you an outdoor mouse or an indoor mouse? You're an outdoor mouse." (laughter)
There have been high expectations for S Malaki Starks since he was drafted. What have you seen from him so far? (Alex Glaze) "Yes, every player, especially a guy like that, you certainly always have high expectations and hopes. Aspirations is probably the right word, and I just take it one day at a time and see how far it goes and what [Malaki Starks] becomes. But so far, he's playing at a really high level. He has passed every test, but there's more tests to come."
With regard to RB Keaton Mitchell, it looks like he's being more involved in different ways on offense. Is that the plan? (Ken McKusick) "I think Keaton [Mitchell], he's a versatile guy. He's obviously [got] speed and I know that we saw this before in his rookie year, but he can catch the ball. He can run routes, and he's dangerous. You saw him on a couple of different kind of routes out there. He can really go. Yesterday, Roquan [Smith] made a crazy good play covering him, which was kind of shocking, actually, in the sense of you think that's a mismatch, and Roquan made a great play, but you could see our running backs are challenging those guys."
K Tyler Loop had a good day today, hitting a 63-yarder in practice. How encouraging is it to see him deliver? (Garrett Downing) "Yes, [Tyler Loop] had a good day. It was a good test day. He had kicks kind of situationally all week, and then to come out here and take it deep like that is a good day."
What have you seen in the last year in terms of defensive coordinator Zach Orr's growth and his approach to the game? (Kevin McNelis) "What I expected to see, probably. Zach [Orr] is a fantastic coach, a great human being, he works really hard, and he is really good. So, he's doing a great job."
What are you hoping to see for the next step in CB Nate Wiggins' evolution? (Sam Cohn) "Again, we're just stacking days and just seeing how far we can go with all the details. It's not really too big picture right now. We're trying to lock in on the little things. When you do a lot of little things well, then the big things kind of take care of themselves, so that's what we're focused on."
You've talked about putting guys in uncomfortable position, situationally in practice. How do you go about coming up with those examples of situations to put them in? And as the team gets better, do you find it more challenging to challenge them? (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, I haven't really thought about it in such a deep way. We just try to cover all the situations. So as you go through training camp, and you organize a training camp, we try to set it up from beginning to end and try to make sure that we teach, we walk through and then we rep every situation we can, both at a teaching pace and also then – as much we can – at a game pace. So, we just try to put them in those situations. And then football is just naturally tough. It's a tough sport. [It's] probably the only sport where you start the season in 102 [degree] heat index, and you finish in zero-degree type conditions. It's just crazy the way this thing works, and, to me, it's one of the things that makes the sport so great. So that makes it tough as well."
What are your expectations for Monday with how the temperature is supposed to change and the pads come on? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, that's always exciting when the pads come on Monday. We've got Saturday first, so we'll be thinking about that. But the guys will be excited because they've been out there doing a lot of football where they can't really play football. And even at that, we're not going to be tackling. We may go live with the young guys at the end of practice if we have time, and we feel right about it because want to get them tackling before the first preseason game, and why not start? But, the blocks will be more realistic. The carries, the punching [of] the ball, it'll all be more like real football, and I know they'll be excited for that."
It looked like CB Chidobe Awuzie wasn't out there a lot today. Is he dealing with anything? (Brian Wacker) "No, [Chidobe Awuzie] is OK. He's good. He's fine."
CB Marlon Humphrey mentioned that they're restarting morning workouts in the gym. What does that mean to see those guys working together that early? (Giana Han) "It's awesome. That place is packed at 6:00 AM. It starts really filling up. At 7:00 AM, it's packed. That's our schedule right now. But those guys, they're in there. And I get it. If you get in there even earlier, and you get a little time. You buy yourself an hour or so to get some breakfast and gather yourself, maybe recover from the lift, but also the bonding part of it. Marlon [Humphrey] is in a great place. I mean he's setting a really high standard. I would say that our most decorated players are setting the highest standard for the team right now. When your best players and your most decorated players are your hardest workers, that's a really good thing. And you see that with our team and everybody else. That's how you lead. And Marlon, along with all those other guys – you know who they are – is at the forefront of that."
How do you feel about how the secondary is gelling together with some of the new faces? (Alex Flum) "I think they're gelling really well. I see young guys – you saw an interception – I'm going to say No. 30 [Reuben Lowery] because he's still a rookie. We're talking about Malaki [Starks] I guess, No. 24. We could call him 24, but he is a first-round pick. Reuben Lowery – because he had a pick – that was as good of a play as you're ever going to see. But to see them on the same page the way they've been. We came out here today in all this heat, and they weren't thinking about the heat. They were thinking about executing their plays, and they're doing a good job of it."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On his focus throughout training camp: "I can't pinpoint one thing. I feel like consistency, and just with leading, playing next to Malaki [Starks], doing my best to get him up to speed, because he's super talented. I honestly think he's miles ahead of where I was at that point in his NFL career, but [he's] super talented. So, that's a big thing right now, just trying to help him be the best player he can be, because once it all clicks for him, he's going to be one of the best in the league. I'm confident in saying that, and also, just for myself, just keeping everything tight and making sure that – whether that's zone [coverage or] man-to-man [coverage], trying to do stuff after practice. We're going against the best in the world every day, so every aspect of my game, I'm trying to work on every day."
On why he thinks S Malaki Starks is miles ahead of where he was at that stage of his career: "One, [Malaki Starks] is just uber talented. He does amazing stuff without even trying and probably doesn't even know that he is doing it, but he's just so instinctual, and he has that little bit holding him back, just because he hasn't been in [the NFL for] a long time. So, once that clicks, then he'll be a great player. I think he knows the playbook more than I did. He's confident out there. He's talking, and he's just so willing to learn and be a sponge, and it's very admirable for somebody his age."
On if he likes the energy CB Jaire Alexander brings to the DB room: "Yes, for sure. I think we probably needed some of that. Guys can be a little eccentric at times, but I'm more even-keeled, so I need to have that brought out of me a little bit, and Jaire [Alexander] does that for us. Everybody follows his lead when it comes to the energy and stuff, and he's only been here three practice days, but everybody can feel the difference with him here. Thanks to everybody upstairs for getting him here, and [I'm] just glad he is on our team now."
On if he thinks he'll start doing more celebrations on the field: "Maybe, I don't know. It would have to be something crazy, but probably not. I'm probably going to stay the same."
On if he thinks the defense has improved in comparison to the 2024 season: "Talent comes and talent goes, and we lost a couple of guys who were a big part of our defense last year and have been parts of this franchise for a while, but we got some guys that I've mentioned previously that will help us rise to the level we want to be at, and I don't necessarily think it's a talent disparity. I think it's more so guys are in the right spot, doing the right thing, and everybody's executing at high level. We're only three days into camp, but as of right now, everything's fine and dandy, but when you get into the season, you need to have people who are going to be on their Ps and Qs during the game. I think we have those guys in the room, and we're still trying to raise that baby right now and get it ready for the season."
On having five first-round picks in the secondary: "The five first-round picks thing is cool and all, but at this level, it doesn't matter. There are guys every year who come in here undrafted and make the team. There are the first-rounders who are busts every year, so I really think it's a matter of everybody having their ego and leaving it outside the room and everybody being willing to sacrifice for one another. Not even [just] within the room, but within the defense, within the team on a day-to-day basis. The stuff is not easy that we do every day, and so you have to be unselfish, you have to be willing to put yourself, put your body and your mind and your time on the line for one another, and I think that we have a good foundation [for] that within the room."
On where he would prefer to line up: "You're probably not going to like this answer, but wherever the coach wants me to be. I've gotten asked that a lot, and I really don't care. As long as I'm out there and I'm able to go play football, it doesn't matter where. I can go line up in a 'three-tech' if they need me to. It probably won't end up well, but I'll go do it. There's not one position that I like better or worse. It's just whatever the team needs me to do at the time."
On his thoughts on CB Nate Wiggins during practice: "Same thing I thought [about] Nate [Wiggins] since he got here. I think he's going to be one of the best in the league. I'm kind of throwing that out a lot today, but I truly believe that with Malaki [Starks] and Nate [Wiggins]. Nate, he's one of those guys that's not afraid to line up against whoever, a nameless, faceless opponent. 'Line it up, and let's run it, ' [in] man [coverage], zone [coverage], whatever it may be, and today especially, he's competing at a high level. He's done that for the past three days, and [I'm] super excited to see what he does in Year Two. I think he's probably going to have one of the bigger jumps from last year [to] this year than anybody on the team."
On what the 100% attendance during training camp says about the culture of this team: "I don't want to speak for everybody else. Everybody has a unique situation, but we all care about football, and we're all here. We try our best to limit distractions, and business is business. It is a business that we play in, so stuff happens sometimes, but we're all here. We all just want to play football."
On the 2000 Ravens defense being feared around the NFL and what he thinks a feared defense looks like: "I'd say that defense is – I'll keep it short and sweet – that defense was really good. We're nowhere close to that right now, but I wouldn't say that if I didn't think we had the potential to be that. That's the ultimate top of the mountain. They obviously won the Super Bowl, so to answer your question, that defense [is what it looks like]."
On the differences he's noticed in defensive coordinator Zach Orr's coaching style going into Year Two: "I think it's been a big freedom thing for [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] within our system. He doesn't want us to be robots. He wants to go out there and make plays, and he knows the talent he has in the room at every position, every level. So, having that trust and that faith in us is a big thing for us. We give our all for him every day, and he does the same thing for us, and he allows us to go out there and make the defense ours. So, that's one thing that he's entrusted us with more responsibility this year."
On what it takes to develop strong communication as a defense: "I think it's [during] the offseason. We don't just pull up, and this is the first time we've been together since Buffalo [in the playoffs]. There are no fans here, and [media members] are here sometimes, but we're putting in the work during the spring, during the summer. We're texting each other, calling each other. That way, [when] we get out here [for training camp], we're not behind the eight ball, because when we go out to Buffalo Week One, we want to be the best we can be and carry that momentum from then on. There's no secret at all. It's just putting in the work and spending time with each other honestly, because you have to be comfortable, and I think that's why Jaire [Alexander] jelled so well with us. He came in and was pretty much like, 'Don't be a stranger. I need to be in every conversation you guys are in so that we can be together in the locker room and on the field.' So, I think that's been the biggest thing for us."
C TYLER LINDERBAUM
On if he feels a difference at the start of this training camp in terms of the offensive line: "Anytime you have reps together, it certainly helps. The position is certainly a 'feel thing.' Getting used to playing next to each other is big, and having guys coming back with experience certainly helps, but it's a new year. There's going to be new challenges and new stuff we need to work on, but [I am] happy so far with how we're coming in here, working hard and trying to get better each and every day."
On what it has been like getting to know and play with the new faces in the offensive line room: "Yes, the young guys have been awesome. [They are a] good group [who] work really hard and are really talented. [I am] just excited to see the improvement from Day One to the end of [training] camp and going into the preseason games."
On how involved he is with helping other interior linemen who are getting snaps at center: "Yes, I think the biggest thing to playing that position in snapping the ball is just getting the reps. These guys work at their craft. They're talented, but any pointers I can help out and help with, I'll certainly say something. It's one of those things where you've got to get the reps in and feel it out to get better at it."
On if he's a goal-setting kind of player and what his goals are for the season: "Yes, absolutely. I have goals, but I will keep them to myself, but [I have] personal goals, team goals and something that you're striving to get better at. I think about that each day and each new season."
On what he has seen from G Daniel Faalele this training camp: "Yes, Daniel [Faalele]'s looked awesome. One, just coming [to training camp] in really good shape. He's certainly been challenged to do so, and I think he took that challenge on. [He] then just continues to get better and better each and every day. I'm excited for Daniel and the things that he's going to be capable of doing this year."
On the stylistic differences between former offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris to current offensive line coach George Warhop: "I don't know too many differences. One, they both love the game of football. They're going to challenge you. They're going to expect the best from you and that's what you kind of want an O-line coach. Since Day One [George] Warhop stepped in and has done a tremendous job, obviously taking over a tough situation. But guys have responded well to him and [have] taken his coaching. He's made us a better unit and a better football team."
On the first couple days of training camp: "It's good. Anytime you get out here to play football, it's a great day. The first few days back are always kind of getting back into the groove of things, but it's been good. I like how the team responded to the heat today, and I just look forward to more practices like this."
On the transition from University of Iowa schemes to the Ravens: "I think [with] each scheme you've got to approach [them] a little [bit] different. Whether it's zone, inside zone, power, but you get that with reps, get that from coaching [and the coaches'] philosophies. You learn to take stuff from what you learned in college and learn in the NFL, and then you try to apply that together to whatever various schemes you're running, but the better you are at multiple schemes, the more versatile you can be."
On his mindset of the status of his contract: "Yes, I'll let [my agent] Neil [Cornrich] handle that. My job is to be as prepared as possible and get this football team ready to go Week 1, so that's all I'm really worried about."
On his approach to participating in OTAs versus holding out: "I need to work on my craft, and I need to get better."
S MALAKI STARKS
On how he would evaluate how his training camp is going so far: "It's going good. It's a little different than I thought it would be, in terms of just ... It's my first camp, so [I'm] just really figuring it out and leaning on the older guys, but it is been really good. We've got a really good group of guys, guys who want to win, guys who want to do things the right way, and I'm just excited to be here with them."
On getting more aggressive going after the ball when the opportunity comes and if that's a sign of him getting more comfortable in whatever is being asked of him: "Yes, I think it's like my learning stages. It's like you get here, and you learn obviously how to practice like a pro, but also when's the right moment to do things, and when's not the right moment to do things. At the end of the day, you still want to be competitive, so [I'm] really just trying to figure out the balance in that and just figure out where I need to be. And also like you said, just me getting more comfortable within the system and playing my game of football."
On how it helps coming into a secondary where there are so many guys that have had the pressure of being a first-round pick: "I think it's huge, and when you look at the guys, just like their personality, it's such a great room to be in and just the knowledge that they have and even [with] the guys that weren't in first round pick. Our room is very deep in general, from top to bottom, so just for me to be able to come in and learn from everybody, it's going to be huge in my development, and I think it's also helping everybody else. The better you can teach somebody else, the better you actually know the system."
On S Kyle Hamilton saying he's ahead of where he was as a rookie and what it's been like playing next to him: "I think [Kyle Hamilton] is being generous. I said this [earlier], there are levels, and Kyle, he's on that top level, and I think just to be able to learn from him ... When I come off, I always go to him like, 'Hey, if this happens, what do you think? And then when they get in this set, what are you thinking?' So, [I'm] just continuing to learn from him, but also to see how he sees the game of football. He's so smart. You think you know football until you get around people who know football, and then you realize you don't know that much about football, but you do, though. Really just being able to learn from him I think has been huge, and for me to be out there with him, it's awesome."
On how much going against the Ravens offense is accelerating his learning curve: "Iron sharpens iron. I'm going against the best in and out every day, and [offensive coordinator Todd] Monken is the best O.C. in the league, so just to be able to come out here and go against him and go against the guys on the offense and learn from them as well. [Learning] how they see the game from their side to help me has been huge in my development as well."
On if there is anything about being a starter as a freshman at Georgia that reminds him about being a rookie in the NFL: "Yes, nothing's easy, and nothing's given. You earn everything and just the work ethic that comes with it. Just because I was a first-round [pick] doesn't mean my spot is guaranteed. I have to work like everybody else, and I've got to prove it. There's a lot of expectations. There are a lot of standards that come with that, but I have to prove myself worthy of it, earn respect from all the teammates that I have and just go out there [each] day and give my best."
On what his expectations of training camp were: "Honestly, I don't know. I came in with a very open mind. I really just want to come out here and compete. I think that's my nature. That's the nature of this organization and especially the DB room, so just being able to be in that room like I said, with guys like that ... You look over to your left, you see Kyle [Hamilton]. You look over to your right, you see Marlon [Humphrey]. You look over to your left, you see Nate [Wiggins]. You look over, you see Jaire [Alexander]. You see everybody, right? You see Jalyn [Armour-Davis], and when they do something, it makes you want to up your level of play. So, just for me to be able to be in that room, it is crazy."
On his presence in the film room, during individual meetings, meeting with coaches, and if there is an area that he feels most comfortable: "Yes, just learning. My biggest thing is I just love to learn, so it is very open discussion in meetings. If you don't know something, don't sit there and not know it, ask. And if you have questions, you ask, so that way, everybody's on the same page. If you have a question, 10 [out of 10] times, somebody else has the same exact question. That's just how it works, and it's always going to be that way. So just being able to feel comfortable in that space, and it also comes with the learning. I know in order to learn the system inside and out, I have to have questions. I have to be curious about everything, and I think that's what I've been doing so far."
On if people will see his personality on the field or be more business-like when he gets settled into the defense: "I think it's a little bit of both. What you see most of the time is my personality. I'm very calm, very goofy, but there's a time for goofiness, and [there's a time for] business. [I'm] just getting comfortable – like you said, new system, new people – so just figuring it out, trying to find that balance of being myself, but also learning as well."
On if the strong personalities of his teammates in the secondary are rubbing off on him: "A little bit. I would just say it's energy, and that's what you need as DB [and] as a football player in general, but the guys in that room, just the energy that they have, you feed off of it. Like I said earlier, it's kind of like making a play. He makes a play. He makes a play. It makes you want to go make a play, so the energy kind of feeds that way as well."
On the weird play from yesterday's practice where he made an interception: "We were on this field here, and I can't remember if it was a seven-on-[seven or full] team [drills], but I was in a deep path, and 'Bate' [Rashod Bateman] ran a seven [route]. I don't know what it was. Lamar [Jackson] threw it, and I was the only one back there, so I caught it. But no, it was weird, because everybody just kind of stopped. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what happened. But no, it was a good experience, but [I'm] also just continuing to learn. The guys on offense and defense, they're so smart, and I think just the ability to really take their knowledge and put it with mine and figure out how I want to play within myself in the system is going to be huge."
On if it was his first time intercepting QB Lamar Jackson in practice: "Yes, yes, it was."
